Friday, 20 July 2012

Sightseeing in Costa Rica

We met very early with a quick breakfast and the chance
to say goo bye to Sheeri and Tim who were flying home and unable to do this
trip, although both had done something similar in Ecuador which i had missed.
Then it was back to the university to take the coach at 7am, except if course
7am LA time was nearer 7.30.

First stop was the church which although in ruins now had
never actually been finished, there were simply too much seismic activity here.
Then it was up to the Izuru volcano, and I never tire of seeing these
geological phenomena. It as fascinating to see where one crater that had been
85 m deep was now full of ash from the last eruption of the next crater in
1963.

Then it was back down from 3000m to the rain forest but
first a Costa Rican breakfast, which seems to be identical to lunch and dinner.
Eggs, fried or scrambled, meat, some salsa, rice and beans and fried plantain
(banana). This one however was excellent.

Our guide Mauricio was very knowledgeable and had great English
except every sentence started with 'my friends'. After what seemed a very long
drive through the rain forest with many traffic jams , e later discovered that
this was the main highway to the port, we turned off towards the river.

We were met with welcome refreshments and fresh fruit and
then it was off down the river with Mauricio pointing out many birds, turtles,
iguanas, 3 large caiman and howler monkeys are we travelled to our next stop.
Lunch.

Costa Rica is also known for it's smaller wildlife frogs
and butterflies and not so small snakes. To ensure his guests always get to see
these animals Mauricio has some captive and it was good to experience the full
range.

Back on the boat to return to the bus and the journey
back to town. One thing I learnt in all Latin America was that driving skills
are very different from ours. Lights in the dark did not seem mandatory on our
mini bus which was very scary. Overtaking large lorries is OK on either side
and closed eyes for passengers is often a must. Also seeing armed guards in car
arks for the lorries was disconcerting but in general I felt much safer than
the guide books or travel warnings suggested.

For my final evening, we ate Asian fusion, Sergio, Graham Wood, his partner Joan and myself. I don't think any of us wanted any more
beans!